Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-11-30

had lett the boy alone in the world
with no heritage save his tacnished
name
To Maggie, however, such knowledge
rs the lad had managed To acquire
seemed perfectly marvellous, and grow
ing intimate with him opened quite a
new world to the girl who had been
brought up TO think that this beautiful
earth was principally good for fatten-
ing bullocks and growing turnips.
From the day when she met him frs.
by the lake, the young creatures lonely
heart had opened to him like 4 flower
taken from q darkened prison to the
light OF the summer sunshine.
There was in Maggie, as in many
border maidens, a strange germ of TO
nance and poetry; and hitherto her
hard prosa!c lie had gwen 1t no chance
of development
Now at the touch of love It burst at
once into maturity.
Her ardent. impulsive nature had
been held down by restraint, and
stunted by her fathers outward cold
ness; but happiness aud loves rapture
transformed the girl into a creature
thrObbing with passion and demonStra-
tive with = gracious abandon, sweet
and subtle in its charms as that which
ever gladdened the heart of lover in
Olden story.
She stood with one soft, warm hand
resting on RalPh's tall shoulder, the
other stTOkinZ his cheek with tender
coquetry, and she nestled to him as his
strong arm claSped her closely.
"Oh. my love, my love, how did l
ever live without youI' she said. Life
was dreary, dreary as the cherries
frns L.
the flowers and brings the song of birds.
on, Ralph, Ralph, feel as though
had never been alive till now!''
The young fellows only answer was
TO draw her closer and press kiss after
kiss on the responsive lips, for the
words were sweet to his ear.
Alas. though, they were heard by
another. and stUng hIm into frenzy.
The old farmer. who had come
quietly up the other side OF the garden
hedge, wondering ''what had happened
the kie that Maggie was so long with
the milk" Just heard the last words
and stood tTansdNed looking on the lit
tie scene, aSsuTedly never meant for
such unsympathetlc eyes TO witness
He himself had taken loves fever
slightly, even IN youth, md never had
maiden thTObbeC with such delriOuS
ecstasy for the self TepTeSsed, PurItani-
cal man as thrilled his daughter now,
and showed in every line of the yielding
figure clasped IN Ralph's young arms.
The sight shocked the old farmer
terribly. Not so should modest maiden
be wOOed by even the wOrthiest; and
this lad, truly, Is none Of the best, and
like rs not means 10 good by the lass.
That thought madens the old man. lie
knows so little of his own girl, with all
his love for her, that he can couple So
coarse thought with one whose nature
Is pure IS the sunlight though as warm.
He knows himself quite as little
probably, for he mistakes the passion
ate resentment he feels entirely for
viTtuous Indignation. though il Is more
a great deal mere jealous fury.
The worst sting of all 10 him at the
moment Is that the girl IL so happy.
She has forgotten him-fOrgOttea AL
his troubles, his loneliness, and his
years of love and care at the bidding Of
this stranger ladl
His voice shakes with emotion. and
he stamps his foot as his words reach
Magxie's startled elr.
Get thee into the house, We shame
less husSy. To think 1 should have
seen my lass take up with one no better
nor lazy loon.
Nay. nay; not a word, I can never
trust ye naiT. We deceItful bairni Get
ye gone, Ralph Irwin, and never dare
10 darken an honest mans door again.
We son of jail bird. Never so long as
l live shall We take my lass in your
arms again.
Ralph tried TO speak; but the far
mer, taking Maggie roughly bv the
shoulder, pushed her into The house
and slammed the door III the poor lad
face.
Ralph turned away with a heavy
heart. Aaron Wilkinson had stabbed
him cruelty. His fathers brief i'm
pTisOnment was ever a ranking wound
IN the memory of one honorable, brave,
and fearless as could be the inherItOr of
even the most unsullied name.
The next week or two passed very
wearily to Maggie
Her father was steTneT and more un-
approachabie than ever, for his heart
ached with love and care and anxious
thought.
He had nothing left but his child,
and now another had come between
them
Youth Graves Tor youth to love again;
and age thirsts for the devotion 1t can
not win: and Nature must have her
way; be the pain ne'er so great; while
at the end of all the great dark shadow
waits to lay its cold Singers on every
murmuring lip and whisper silence.
The weather was wet and the girl
could get no excuse to meet her lover,
and escape her fathers watchtui eyes,
and the light faded from her wIstful
face.
The old man sighed when he saw it.
II. wanted her TO be happy, only he
wanted her to find her happiness in liv-
ing for him alone; and the exacting
love he bore her could be satisfied with
nothing else.
The rent day came at last, and the
farmer set OF alone to the place sp-
pointed
He had to walk. for the old gray
mare had been sold To meet that day
need; and even his faithful dog was
left behind at home
Maggie stood gazing after the thin
worn figure regretfully-
a great dumb pity was in her heart.
She knew all his care, all tine bitter
humiliation he felt in prospect or the
ordeal he had to go through.
She loved him, poor child; would fain
have taken the poor gray head Ia her
hands. and kissed the thin stern lips
Jefore he lett. had she dared; but the
barrier that had been raised between
them kept her at distance
She could not, would not give up
bsr love TO please HIM, and, aiaSl no
smaller sacrifice would content his
exacting nature The day wore on
YEARLY. She would not take advant-
age of his absence to meet with ItalpA-
To her high intuitiye sense OF honor
IL would have seemed mean 10 90 So
when her father WAS suffering SO deepIS
and had so much 10 bear.
She wandered rsstIessly..from kitchen
IN narIor as the lonely hours passed
The morning had been sunshlny ana
warm. hut toward noon heavy. ominous
loosInp black clouds rolled up from
the west, and ere long all was DARK
overhead ra